Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 59, June 2014 | Page 12

In the Lead

BOSSING the Big One
Last year, Charne Bosman shone in her debut
Comrades Marathon, placing fifth and also the first
SA woman home. She chats to Modern Athlete
about eyeing a podium spot this year, and running in
memory of her late father. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

I

n 2013, Charne’s move up to the big ultras fell perfectly into place: Having
won the SA Marathon title early in 2012 and then finished second later that
year in the Bonitas City to City 50km, she ran a sparkling 3:40 in her debut
Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, placing third in the women’s race. This was
later changed to second following the disqualification of winner Natalia Volgina
for a doping infringement. Then she followed that up with a 6:53 in her first
Comrades Marathon to take fifth place, and was also the first local woman over
the line. “After Comrades, people saw me as a proper athlete. I had no idea
how huge it was! If anything, it’s South Africa’s own Olympics,” says Charne.
“I’ve put the race on this pedestal, so it was always going to be my main focus
this year.”

However, Charne’s build-up to this year’s ‘Down Run’ has been far from easy.
Shortly after her stellar showing in last year’s Comrades, her father passed
away in July, and for Charne, who says he was her biggest supporter, it was a
life-changing moment. “He was always at races with my mom. He went with
me to medicals and travelled to see me compete. I think the positive thing I
can take out of it, was that he knew I was running well at that stage, and this
year’s run will be for him.” She says she will pin a small photo of her dad onto
her kit at Comrades and he will be her inspiration in the race. “If I want to give
up, I will just remind myself that I’m running with him. He will be there with
me through every kilometre.”
On top of her huge loss, Charne’s health also took strain this past year. Last
November, she noticed her heart rate going off the charts during a training run,
and was subsequently diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. After receiving
medication, Charne hit the road again, but it seized up a week before this
year’s Old Mutual Om Die Dam 50km. “I felt tired and lost a lot of weight, and I
remember struggling on race day from the 34km mark. Eventually, the doctors
and I found out that taking my kelp supplements only makes it worse!” After
cutting the kelp out, Charne got back to training feeling positive again. “I was
scared the 2014 Comrades would be out of reach, but I did a few long runs in
March and felt strong again. Despite everything that’s happened, I knew I’d get
through all of this. I’ve always believed that you won’t get tests in life you can’t
survive. Running has also helped me through it all.”

STICKING TO THE PLAN

Even after her incredible ‘Big C’ debut, she’s determined to correct a few
mistakes from 2013. “I think I over-trained last year, and I was struggling with
a knee niggle, so I was distracted by that, too,” she says. “Then I didn’t eat on
the route and was sent to the medical tent for drips at the finish. This time,
it’s about arriving at the start healthy, and I’ve been introducing bananas and
potatoes in my training runs as well.” Her husband of eight years, Carel, will
also be a constant support on the route, once again riding on his motorcycle
from water point to water point. “He was there to give me drinks throughout
and keep me going. He’s a cyclist, so he knows the kind of lifestyle I live.”
Now it’s all about getting the small stuff right for Charne. The introduction of
strength work into her training has helped her quads and the Nedbank running
club’s training camp in hilly Graskop was the perfect mimic of the Comrades
route. “I just want to enjoy the moment. I have a plan, so I must concentrate
on keeping my head, not going too hard at Field’s Hill, and [